Uber, Other Ride-Sharing Services Gearing up for State Fight in Legislature

TALLAHASSEE — Some state lawmakers are doing what they can to help Uber, with bills filed in both chambers for the smartphone app-based car service.

State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, this year filed a bill setting statewide standards on insurance coverage and background checks. That would clear the way for Uber, and similar upstarts like Lyft, to break free of some local regulation. Previous pro-Uber bills failed last year.

Another bill in the House filed by state Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, goes even further, totally reserving regulation to the state and cutting out local bodies, such as Collier County code enforcement investigators.